"We are going to keep competing," Beckman said. "We will evaluate film and practice next week and make a decision (about the starter) against Penn State. We will make sure we have the one that performs the best throughout the week."

Scheelhaase returned from a two-game absence from a sprained ankle to make his 28th start Saturday, but he threw an interception and lost a fumble in the first quarter and was pulled in favor of O'Toole. Beckman used the word "rusty" to describe Scheelhaase, who completed 8 of 11 passes for 85 yards and a touchdown.

Scheelhaase, calm and introspective following the game, said his ankle felt good enough to play but said it slowed him on the scramble and fumble that ended his night. The Illini lost five fumbles in the game.

"The fumble is real uncharacteristic, something I haven't done too often in my career," Scheelhaase said. "It's one of those things I have to get back to where I can run away from people. … I was frustrated at myself for not making that play, and if I didn't have it, to either throw it out of bounds or tuck the ball."

O'Toole went 19-for-25 for 120 yards, a lost fumble and a touchdown run. He noticed the difference in a less-than-100-percent Scheelhaase.

"He's close, but like you saw when he rolled out on that one play, he just didn't have his burst," O'Toole said. "He's getting better every day, and next week he'll be great."

The quarterbacks often exchange praise when speaking to the media, and neither would suggest a brewing controversy.

"I've never looked at it like it's a battle so much as we have to do what we can to better ourselves and better our team," Scheelhaase said.

"I'm not worried about that right now," O'Toole said. "We're just worried about as a team, collectively, being ready for Big Ten."

With Penn State set to visit Champaign for the Big Ten opener Saturday, Scheelhaase focused on one positive following the loss. A 2-2 nonconference record doesn't mean anything in the Big Ten race.

He maintained that he is staying even-keeled as he and the Illini flip to that new chapter of the season.

"At the end of the day, when you get squeezed, that's when you really get tested," Scheelhaase said. "That's when you find out what you're really about, and I know what I'm really about."